Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

(NIV, Joshua 1:9)

If you’ve learned how to ride a bicycle, you remembered the process? First, you were more nervous about falling than moving. Then after mustering the courage to move on to the next step, you went just a few feet before losing your balance. Next, you realized that if you can do it for a few feet, you can do it for a few more. Eventually, you learned how to conduct micro shifts of your weight to master balance while steering and pedaling to make it seem effortless. Very soon after locking in the riding technique you realize that you can coast for a while or maintain movement after you gained enough momentum without pedaling.

Every moment mattered when you were learning because you realized that if you didn’t make appropriate adjustments and keep pedaling, you wouldn’t remain balanced enough to maintain motion in the direction you want. If you stop pedaling eventually you will stop advancing.

But there is more to riding than balancing and pedaling. You learned that since there may be multiple routes to a destination, the one you take can make the trip longer or shorter, rougher or smoother, harder or easier. There are some routes that have little inclines, and others with steeper inclines called hills. After you master a gentle 10-degree incline, it is easier the next time around. In fact, that victory makes you more confident to be able to conquer a harder 20-degree incline.

Some bicycles have gears, so though you may not be to change the route, you can shift a gear to make the work a bit easier. But there are only so many gearshifts you can make before you cannot switch gears anymore. You must then make more effort. You will have to shift your weight forward, pedal standing ups, or grunt as you press thighs, calves, and insteps harder into your pedals. But you muscle through until you are up and over the hill. Sometimes you encounter a pothole, and you damage your tire. You do not change your bicycle; you just change the tire.

Today you may be riding not just one but multiple bicycles. They could be marriage, your job, your children, your boss, that project or other things. Have you decided to stay on the bike and keep pedaling when the challenge gets greater with uphill and bumpy terrain, or are you going to stop or worse, go back? Have you learned how to shift gears for cope and clarity knowing you cannot change the course? Have you realized you do not have to switch bikes if the tires of your method or mindset are no longer rolling you along but just change them? Have you accepted that you can only coast long enough to catch your breath or refresh but you must keep moving? Realize that every mile you conquer is another milestone that brings you closer to your destination as you pedal and make intentional shifts moment by moment.